Team PokerStars Nets Hockey Great Mats Sundin

While the hockey world may have to keep waiting for Mats Sundin to decide his NHL future, fans of the felt will be seeing a lot of the fomer Toronto Maple Leafs captain. It has been announced that PokerStars has signed the hockey legend to an endorsement deal, making Sundin the newest PokerStars embassador.

The move teams Sundin, 37, with a couple former atheletes already on the roster, tennis star Boris Becker and former Los Angeles Dodger great Orel Hershiser. Sundin might not lace up the skates next year, but you will be able to find him playing online under the screenname "MasSundin" or live on any of the worldwide PokerStars tourament stops. His first stop, the EPT event in Barcelona, Wednesday, September 10th.

"I have always enjoyed playing poker and partnering with PokerStars gives me the opportunity to challenge myself and explore the full potential of my game," said Sundin during a news conference. "Learning from and playing against some of the best poker players in the world won't be easy, but I believe the fighting spirit I've developed as a hockey pro will really help me at the tables."

Sundin was the first overall pick of the 1989 NHL Draft, by the Quebec Nordiques. Sundin was the acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 1994 trade. He was named team captain in 1997, a title he held even through the 2008 season, which may turn out to be the last for the legend. If he is done, the Swede will have left the game as the Maple Leaf's all-time leading scorer and captain of a Sweden National Team which captured many international titles, including a 3-2 victory over Finland to capture the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Sundin stated that he will donate 100 percent of his tournament winnings to charity. A nice guesture, seeing how he is probably not hurting for money. If this poker thing falls through, Sundin could sign the two-year $20-million dollar contract offered up by the the Vancouver Canucks this summer, a contract that would make him the league's highest paid player.

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